Combined crossing and switch



(No Model.) 3- Sheets-Sheet 1.

I. G. WEIR. COMBINED CROSSING AND SWITCH. No. 409,537. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

Ln 0 en wmin mn u. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. C. WEIR.

COMBINED UROSSING AND SWITCH.

No. 409,537. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

N. PETERS, Pinata-Litho ra her, Walhing'on. D.C.

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3. P. O. WEIR.

COMBINED GROSSING AND SWITCH.

No. 409,537. Patented Aug. 20, 1889;

N, PETERS. Fhelmlilhflgmphnr, Washinglnm um UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRIO C. \VEIR, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

COMBINED CROSSING AND SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 409,537, dated August 20, 1889. Application filed Decembr 22, 1888; Serial No. 294,411. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRIC C. WEIR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Crossing and Switch, of which the followingis a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide suitable means for operating two sets of switches simultaneously, arranged between the frogs ofthe crossing, so as to switch trains from one main line to another on the crossing. The two sets of switch-rails necessarily employed in this construction are a considerable distance apart, and serious diffe culties have arisen in constructing the mechanism and simultaneously throwing both sets of switches and operating them positively. Orank rods located on the outside of the crossing-switch have been employed for this purpose; but the torsional strain on the rods is objectionable, as the rod is liable to become bent or twisted and not set the switchrails positively to and from the main lines. Another difficulty has been found in the amount of friction occasioned in transmitting motion from a central point to the distant switches. My invention herein described overcomes both of these difficulties, all of which is fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detailplan View with sections broken off to show the construction of some of the parts. Fig. 3 is a section on line a :0, Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a sectional elevation on line 3 y, Fig. 2. Fig. 5is an end elevation of the" parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation on line 2' .2, Fig. 9. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one end of the guide-plates. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of one of the slotplates. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modification of the switch-moving device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A A represent the rails of one of the main crossing lines. B B represent the rails of the other line.

0 represents the double crossing-frog on one side :of the crossing, and O the double crossing-frog upon the other side of the crossing, and D D the frogs at the end of the crossing.

F F represent the switch-rails at one end of the crossing, and G G the rails at'the opposite end of the crossing. In practice it is necessary to move these two sets of switchrails to and from the main rails simultaneously to open or close this double switch at both ends. I have shown this switch for convenience of construction of what is known as split switclrrails and the ordinary friction-plates; but the switch-moving devices are new.

In order to best apply means for transmitting the power from the moving switch-bar to the ends of the two sets of switch-rails, I provide, first, moving cam-plate 1, preferably equidistant from the two sets of switch-rails, to which the switch-bar 2'is rigidly connected; second, a shaft located centrally between the switches and extending from the cam-plate 1 to the end cam-plates 3. These cam-plates (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) are each the duplicate of the other, and are adapted to move in opposite directions at the same time by employing a divided or sectional central shaft 4, each section of which-is a counterpart of the other.

5 represents frictional rollers respectively engaging with slots 6 7, pierced in the plate 1, and these slots are inclined diverging from each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In order that the said plate 1 may be properly supported to move freely in fixed ways and with little friction and lost motion, I provide two supporting or bed plates 8 9,which are united rigidly together by means of angle-irons 1O 11, that are firmly riveted to said plates. In order to form a sufficient opening for the section shaft or rod 4, these angle-irons are made of sections, and each connected together by top plate 12, which is firmly riveted to the two sections at the top edge of the an gle-plate, forming as it were a yoke. These angle-irons also serve as guides or ways for the plate 1.

13 represents friction-rollers at the ends of plate 1, journaled on the underside by studs 14. These anti-friction rollers are so located that their peripheries bear and travel against the vertical face of the angle-irons 10 11- and prevent the plate 1 from binding at the ends and allow it to be moved without friction. The plate 1 is' supported vertically on the ends of the journals 14, which are rounded off and rest upon the top of the plates 8 and 9. I have not found it necessary to support the plate 1 vertically on friction-rollers, as the thrusts or strains are all longitudinal, and the thrusts and strains are borne by the friction-rollers 13.

In order to impart motion from cam-plate 1 through the sectional shafts 4 to the two sets of switch-rails F F and G G, the cam-plates 3 at either end are rigidly connected to said sectional shafts 4, each provided with slots 17 represents forked rail-bars, each of which and below the cam-plate 3, and at the end ofv said fork is journaled friction-roller 18, each of which engages with its respective slot 15 or 16. Now as the plate 3 is moved outward by the thrust of its sectional shaft 4 the rollers, traveling inward along the slots 15 and 16, will force the switch-rails F F and G G outward and in juxtaposition to the main rails, so as to form a closed-switch connection. The sectional shafts 4 are moved outward or inward by the engagement of the friction-rollers 5 with the slots 6 and 7 in cam- .plate 1, which rollers are j ournaled in the forked end of said section-shafts 4, forcing the two respectively outward or inward, according to the direction at which bar 2 moves.

In order to lessen the friction and allow the two said sectional shafts 4 to be moved freely, I provide a series of anti-friction yoke-guides 19, which in the present instance consist of friction-rollers 20, having their peripheries grooved, so as to receive and support shaft 4, which fits in said grooves. The inner ends of said shafts 4 are sustained bythe cam-plate 1, which is sustained upon the point of the journals 14, whereby I am enabled easily to move both of said switches by a single switchlever to open and close both of said sets of switches simultaneously and positively, avoiding lost motion and securing a positive movement simultaneously of both of said switches.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a modification, which consists of making the centrally-driving shaft 4 integral, and having but one slot in plate 1, with a single friction-roller 5, travcling in said slot journaling at the center of the yoke 25, formed in said shaft 4 bya stud 23, which supports the friction-roller 24, that engages the edge of the bed-plate 8 or 9. By this means the central shaft 4 is moved in one direction, right or left.

In order that the plates 3 may move the switch-plates and open or close the switches simultaneously, the slots which engaged with the journals of the bar 17 are set in reverse position or in reverse angles to each other, so that as rod 4, say, is moving to the right both sets of switch-rails, F F and G G, are simultaneously spread apart to close the switch, and when the said rod is removed to the left the said switch-rails are drawn toward each other and the switches are opened. This method of construction I deem to be the equivalent of that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

I have shown for convenience the construction of switch-bar 2 as operated by a parallel-moving switch-stand; but it is obvious that any ordinary switch-stand may be used in lieu thereof.

In order that the central shaft 4 or sections of shafts may be allowed to reciprocate freely, I have constructed the central portion with a fork 21 and 22.

23 represents a stud, as shown in Fig.3, upon the bottom of which is a friction-roller 24. Said friction-roller bears against one of the plates 8 or 9 in its longitudinal travel, so as to move with little friction and to prevent lateral lost motion. The said roller 24 does not quite fill the space between said plates 8 and 9, so that it bears only on one of them at a time. Thus when the central shaft is moved to the right the strain will draw the friction-roller against plate 9, and when it is moved in reverse direction itwill throw it against plate 8 the least appreciable amount of lost mot-ion at the inner end of said shaft.

I believe I am the first to apply a centrallylongitudinal moving shaft located between a set of switch-rails and the central cam-plate 1 to operate simultaneously two sets of switch-rails. I believe I am also the first to use the cam-plates 3 between the switcherails connected to fixed arm 17 and attached to said switch-rails for simultaneously spreading apart and drawing toward each other to open and close the switch, Wherefore I do not limit my claims to the specific construction of such parts.

I believe, also, I am the first to use the central cam-plate 1, located centrally between the switches, to reciprocate a shaft and simul taneously operate the switches at either ehd of the crossing, and I desire to claim the same broadly.

Having described my invention, what I claim is'- 1. In combination with the centrally-reciprocating shaft 4, the plate 1, provided with a slot engaging with a stud on said central shaft, reciprocating said shaft 4, substantially as herein specified.

2. In combination with the central camplate 1, the central shaft 4, connected at the outer ends with the two sets of switch-rails, and a mechanism for simultaneously opening and closing said switches as said central shaft is reciprocated, substantially as herein specified.

3. In combination with a central cam-plate 1, the central shaft 4, with the supportingplates 8 and 9, forming guides for the central shaft 4and a support for reciprocating the shaft upon plate 1, substantially as specified.

4. In combination with the supportingplates 8 and 9, guides 10 and 11, the central cam-plate 1, supported laterally, and the friction-rollers 5, traveling against said guides,

substantially as herein set forth.

5. A support for the central plate 1 and central shaft 4, consisting of the plates 8 and 9, rigidly united together by yoke-plates bolted to said plates 8 and 9 at either end of the camplate 1, substantially as herein specified.

6. A double switch-moving device consisting, substantially, of the shaft 4, located centrally between two sets of switches, the mechanism for moving said shaft longitudinally, and the cam-plates 3 at either end of the shafts, connected with the rail-bars 17, provided with studs engaging with the slots and 16, whereby the two sets of switch-rails are simultaneously opened or closed by the reciprocation of the said shaft 4, substantially as described.

7, The combination, with the plate 3, 0p-

erated by the reciprocating shaft-4 and provided with slots 15 and 16, of the rail-bars 17, connected to the inside of the switch'rails and provided with studs engaging in the slots 15 and 16, whereby said switch bars are moved in unisonto or from each other as the said plates are reciprocated, substantially as herein specified.

8. The combination of the plate 3, provided with slots 15 and 16, and the rail-bars 17, engaging said slots 15 and 16 from opposite sides of said plate 3, substantially as specified.

9. The combination, with a crossing, of a switch-moving mechanism consisting of the cam-plate 1, connected to the switch-bar, the reciprocating shaft 4, the cam-plates 3, connected at either end of said bar, and the railbars 17, provided with studs engaging with the slots of plate 3 and attached to the switchrails on either side of said plates, substantially as specified.

10. In combination with two sets of switches, the central shaft 4, supported in anti-frictional guides and connected at each end to the camplates 3, which operate the rail-bars and switch-rails as they are reciprocated by said shaft 4, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FREDRIC C. WEIR. Witnesses:

J. WA'rsoN SIMs, T. SIMMoNs. 

